MH House is a small-scale residence located in a coastal neighborhood of Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam. On a compact 91-square-meter site and with a moderate construction budget, the project was developed under a design philosophy of architectural conciseness - a pursuit of essential form and structure, simplicity in material expression, and clarity in spatial organization.
The building’s massing derives directly from the geometry and orientation of the site. The volume rises from the main street and gradually lowers toward the narrow rear alley. This configuration responds to the site while embracing the coastal atmosphere through openings that capture light and sea breeze. A slightly oblique boundary line was treated as an opportunity to create a dynamic form oriented toward the East-Southeast, structured on archetypal geometries and fundamental proportions.
The spatial composition originates from the family’s daily routines and the relationship between solid (private) and void (communal) spaces - a conceptual duality that forms the foundation of the project’s spatial logic.
The design process began with sketches and a physical model exploring the solid-void relationship. These studies helped clarify the essential architectural order: the hierarchy of components, the atmosphere, the proportional balance between mass and void, and the tactile quality of materials. Through this process, a harmony between geometry and emotion was continuously maintained.
After establishing the overall logic of solid and void, the design prioritized a central open space - a reinterpretation of traditional courtyards or lightwells. This vertical void acts as the spatial and spiritual core of the house, bringing natural light and ventilation deep into the interior. Its openness and vertical proportion create a sense of being outdoors, allowing air and light to flow freely while framing the subtle changes of the natural environment. The white walls of varying heights enhance abstraction, transforming intangible elements like light and air into tangible spatial experiences.
The functional spaces are organized around the central void, following the initial solid-void logic and distributed across two levels. The house includes basic functions such as living room, dining and kitchen, workspace, worship area, three bedrooms, bathrooms, storage, and laundry. The stair volume serves as a key transitional element, enhancing the sensory experience of movement between spaces. Along with subtle shifts in levels corresponding to functional needs and expressed in the building’s exterior massing, this hierarchical system also articulates the gentle transitions of light within the orthogonal composition of solid and void, creating a harmonious spatial rhythm throughout the house.
MH House represents a balance between the physical and the spiritual. It is a place where daily life unfolds in a calm, peaceful atmosphere, enriched by the distilled language of architecture.